Avs Game 26 Grades: Put the team on his back

Andrew Cogliano – C-

That line is taking a beating just by playing up in the lineup further than they normally would, but Cogliano keeps getting his chances and seems to get the majority of the good looks for that trio. Again had some good looks coming down the wing.

J.T. Compher – C–

Once you stumble on a play like the Saad goal, it’s very hard to recover and get your speed back, as we saw. Nice bounce back battle in front on the tying goal. Didn’t like him at even strength but thought he was tremendous on the 5 on 3 PK early.

Andreas Englund – C

I find his usage to be quite fascinating. The staff seems to trust him more than MacDonald and even MacDermid when he was in the lineup. He almost played as much as EJ at even strength. He gets in trouble with the puck, like an ugly icing in the second, but he definitely uses his size as much as he can.

Jean-Luc Foudy – B–

His best moments came in the first period, with a nice play where he put a shot on net and then followed up for a good look on the rebound. Faded a little as the game went on but was on the rush with Mikko for his first goal.

Pavel Francouz – B

For a second there, it looked like another game where Francouz would play well and get very little goal support. That changed quickly. No even-strength goals allowed, as the Avs goalies continue to do well there.

Sam Girard – B-

More spins to escape in the offensive zone and create some chances, and in the defensive zone, had quite a few plays with his stick that broke up some good looks for the Blues.

Charles Hudon – C

Liked him early but he gets into trouble in his own end. Had an ugly turnover in the second period trying to leave the zone that resulted in five Avs being stuck on the ice for well over a minute, and Hudon icing it himself not long after.

Brad Hunt – B+

Had a surprisingly noticeable game in a good way. Had a good look pinching down from the point but missed the net, and hit Makar in the slot for a good chance in the third. Picked up an assist on the first goal as well.

Dryden Hunt – INC

Uhhhhhh….he played. Barely.

Erik Johnson – B

Big time blocks on the 5 on 3 that helped the Avs hold off the Blues for a little bit. Took a shot up high in the third but seemed to be okay. Was ready for the drop pass on Mikko’s goal, but it never came.

Artturi Lehkonen – C-

To be honest, he looked more like a guy who missed a month than just a week. Struggled to corral the puck and do a ton with it. At one point in the first, he just lost the puck with no one around him in the neutral zone. His best play came late, though, with a battle along the wall to keep the puck alive with the net empty.

Jacob MacDonald – INC

He’s only INC because of low TOI, but an ugly game where the Avs spent all of their time in their own end when he was on the ice. Seems to be falling out of favor at the moment.

Cale Makar – C

His best moment was the PK play where he broke up a pass and skated it up rather than dumping it, creating a two-on-one. He missed wide, but I like seeing that aggressiveness. Seemed like a pretty average game overall, and a lot like the playoffs, the Blues defended him hard in the offensive zone.

Ben Meyers – B-

He still has his issues defensively and got caught down too far down low as the third man high, which created an odd-man rush early, but his skating goes a long way to help out. Like his linemates, his best moments came early in the game.

Alex Newhook – B-

Started the game on the fourth line, but didn’t really last that long, as he moved all over the place as the game went along. Nice patience on the assist to wait that extra half-second to hit Mikko rather than rushing a pass.

Valeri Nichushkin – C+

Slightly better tonight with the puck, but can still see the rust. Picked up an assist in overtime, but loved his give-and-go with Compher in the second that Binnington got his glove on.

Logan O’Connor – D

Let some passes get through on the PK through the slot that just can’t happen, and spent the majority of the game in his own end. Left the game briefly in the second but was able to return.

Mikko Rantanen – A

Avs needed him to step up in a big way and he did, using his size and reach on the final two goals and his skill on the first. Even beyond that, he had good looks to teammates to give them chances they couldn’t bury. He’s not been that bad in the face-off circle. Big time game from their horse up front.

Devon Toews – A

This felt like one of his best games of the season. Seemed to have the puck on his stick a ton and carried the puck a lot. The keep-in toward the end of the game was incredible and picks up an assist on the tying goal.